Twitter Bidding Frenzy Turns Out to Be a Fairytale, Stock Shifts to Implode Mode in Harrowing After Hours Session

Over the past month, shares of TWTR have risen by more than 35% on speculation that someone, anyone, would make a bid for the disheveled money losing social media giant.  In recent days, the sociopath, Mark Benioff from Saleforce.com, has been in the press for possibly having an interest in Twitter, in spite of the fact that there are zero synergies between the two companies, whatsoever.

Recode is out with a note of caution tonight, saying both Apple and Google couldn’t care less about the ongoings of Jack and his retarded band of social justice warriors at Twitter. Additionally, they believe the recent rumor milling is due to investment bankers trying to gin up hype for the potential bidders to bid MOAR.

Source: Recode
According to sources close to the situation, Google does not currently plan to make a bid for Twitter. While the search giant has been among the buyers considered most likely to be a contender for the social communications company, those familiar with the deal said that the company was not moving forward with an effort to buy it at this time.

In addition, several sources Recode has spoken to this week also said that Apple was unlikely to be one of the possible suitors, with one saying Twitter should have “low expectations” of getting an offer from the tech giant.

That should tamp down the frenzied speculation around a possible Twitter sale since Salesforce began no-commenting noisily with regard to possible interest in acquiring it a few weeks ago.

The news set in motion a series of ever more breathless reports of bankers being hired and a bidding process being started. Much of this is due to said bankers trying to gin up excitement around a sale of Twitter, creating as much interest as possible to spike up the price. After all, it can’t be just Salesforce’s Marc Benioff running around flashing wads of cash!

Still, let’s be clear: The process of selling Twitter is happening, as has been much reported. While Salesforce has indeed been the most aggressive possible buyer, Disney has also been mulling a bid (though Peter Kafka thinks it is a dumb move), along with a range of other players in telecom, media and private equity.

That’s why there was much hubbub around a recent report that Google had tapped Lazard to look at a Twitter bid. (Wheee! They hired a banker! In reality, the investment bank is Google’s longtime M&A adviser on retainer and looks at every possible deal for it.)

By the way, a lack of a Twitter bid by Google or Apple probably raises the likelihood that you are never going to see one from Facebook either.

It is much the same for Apple, said sources, noting that the focus there remains on its flagship consumer products and not on social networks. While Twitter’s foray into mobile video distribution is compelling, sources note that Apple can benefit from that without owning or managing it. And, of course, paying upwards of $20 billion for it.

The stock is down by more than 9% in the after hours.